Violin



Jan. 6, 1931. w. A. WEAVER 1,788,137

VIOLIN Filed my 19. 1929 f [bg ...10:5-

/'lz'am A/ea geni" BY @mi ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 6, Y 1931 g vUNITEDSTAT WILLIAM A. WEAVER, orfrniarn, FLORIDA i Y VIOLIN Application ledJ'uly 19,

This invention relates to improvements in violins, an object being toprovide a relatively narrow neutral zone kwhich extends longitudinallyof the violin, centrally beneath the bridge to provide separatevibration zones upon opposite sides of the neutral zone, to cause thevibrations to start simultaneously from opposite sides of such neutralzone. This action creates sound waves which are divided and travel inoppositev directions from a central point, and pass outward through thesound openings of thefviolin.

Another object of the invention isA the provision of means of the abovecharacter which in addition, will take the place of the usual base bar;provide clearer and more even tones due to the absence of attachments oneither side of the center of the violin; eliminate the necessity ofregluing the base bar and the consequent disassembling of the violin forthis purpose; increase the strength, durability andy artistic appearanceof the instrument; provide additional space beneath the tail piece andfinger board for cleaning purposes; provide a better footing for thebridge with resultant easier vibration; eliminate the use of gluing forthe base bar, glue acting'to stiften the wood and retard vibration;produce increased tone harmony due to unity oi' wood and grain; providea wider range of tone regulation by making the instrument more sensitiveto vibration; increase the carrying power by eliminating all hindranceto How of tone through the sound openings; is more subject to light andshade in tone due.

v to its sensitiveness to vibration; prevent screeching noises inbowing; is economical in the use of bow hair due to its sensitiveness tolight touch, and in addition, reduce fatigue occasioned by long concertsowing to itssenstive touch.

` Vith the above and other objects in view,

the invention further includes the following novel features and detailsof constructiom'to bek hereinafter more fully described, illustrated inthe accompan ing drawings and pointed out in the appen ed claims.

In the drawings y Figure 1 is a lan View of a violin conJ structed inaccor ance with the invention, the

vthree'jilast 4mentioned elements v ieaaf';senaiwukavensa n Y y iingerboard anditailgpiece beingshown "by dOtted-linesl'"V 'y f 'f Figuresand. 3. are sectional viewstake'nv `respectivelyr 'onf the lines 2*-2and f3-3 of Y Figurel.' f, 55v

= Figure 4 is a yfragment-ary sectionlshowing a slightly modified formofthe inventio'mj; v .-*Referring to the drawings in detail where! inlike lcharacters of reference denotecorre-r sponding parts, thebody ofthe violin which i'sindicalted at 10 `lincludes-a back 11 and a top-12.The nbody. is shaped after `the manneroffthe*usual'violin vand the top12 isfproi vided with sound escape openings `13; The finger boardpofthevil'in-y is indicated at 14, 65 the tail pi-ece at 15 and the bridgeatlG-,these n beingindicatedbydottedlineslil 1 f f As is welllmowgth'eviolin'as ordinarily constructedis providedy with ajbaseb'ar'which 70 A extends'longitudinally withinthe body/f and is gluedtothe'top atione sidejof the centerof the violin. This barsometimes'becomes dei tached and the Violinfmust be taken apart to reglue thebaiv`In addition,thefglue acts to 751 sti'iieir the wood and render the ytopofthe violin `less sensitive to vibration; Further, the bar is locatedat one sideof the center of the topso that thevibratory area 'of the topupon opposite sides'o this bar-is uneven or v80 unbalanced, andtherefore the soundV waves which arecr'eated withinthe tone'chamber passunevenly from the sound openings upon opposite sides 'ofthe center-fofthe violiniV Thesef'andl lother disadvantages are over= 85 come-in theVpresent invention `byprov'iding a groove orfrecess 17 whichextendscentrally and longitudinallyof the sound board or top 12.` Forthispurpose, the sound board extendsiinwardlyat this point and the wallsoi this groove-:orf-recess ltake theplace of the usual base bar. Inaddition, this construction `ifreini'o'rces and stiii'ens the soundboard longitudinally `and.`centrally,` and not only v'materiallystrengthens the instrument, but 95 provides a central neutral zone withseparate vibratory zones upon opposite sides thereof. The vibratoryaction of the zones upon opposite sides of the recess 17 sets up soundwaves within the tone Chamber, and as the neutral 10 vzone is central ofthis chamber,these sound Waves are evenly produced upon opposite sidesof the center of the tone chamber and pass out in equal volume throughthe open- 5 ings 13.

This construction renders the instrument more sensitive to vibration:and .produces .an even trwvel olf sound waves gin' appesteiree'- tionsfrom a central point and adds materially to the tone quality as well asthe volume of sound. By forming the wallsoff the recess 17 integral withthe sound board, increased tone harmony results.

If desired, the back .1l .may likewise :be

provided with a similar groove'18 to divide the backinto 'separatevibratory zones.

The invention may be applied it@ told. line .by attaching. a strip 19"to .the'czmm'wall v of the sound board and' forming amm-120,.

2@ as shown in Figure 4 of the drawing,.:butsis preferred to' ferm thewalls .of `the groove integral with the violin structure.

The invention is .susceptible of various changes 'in its form,proportions land minorl details `of -construetion and: the .right ishemeiln reserved to makesnch changes as Lprorperly fall WithinVthe-scope 4of theuppended claims.

Having described- -the invention. what isy claimed is 3,) 1. In aviolin, a troughJ-ike depression .ex-

tending centmll-y and longitudinally .in top and .bottom Walls oftheviolin to yprovide a neutral zone and separate vibrator-y zones uponopposite sides` thereof.V

2. .Ina. `violin, a trough-.likedepression extending' centnally andlongitudinally of the body of the violinte .providenepamute vi-Lbratoryzones. y

v3.` In afvinlin, a troughflikedepressinnx- .m tending centrally undlongitudinally of the body and formed` integral with--theitop and bottomVWalls to divide said body .into rate vibrator zones.

4. In avio in,.al sound board hafving .a cen- 4 7, tral y1ongitudinaJzlydisposed depression there-l in Vtapering .at `-.euch end and dividinglsdboard into separate vviblatory. zones.

.5 Ina violi-n1, afsound beard hav-ing a eentr allongitudinally.disposeddepnesaiomthene to in dividing saidboardfintoseparate vibratory zones, the Walls-ef the recess being." .1Wih. the sound board, and tapering` at en 6. Ina violin, a. body Vhavinyits 'opposed op and' bottom wal-1s :provide `with mnem- -rmll-y locatedlongitudinally disposed ire- CSSS'.

.In'testimony 'whereof I 1 ax my* 4.- time.

11AM A.

